Knee rest or support.



FIGK

INVENTOR:

PATENTED APR. 11, 1905. B C BISPHAM KNEE REST 0R SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED 00w. 21.1904.

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HGTZIZ FIG .H;

UNTTeo STATES Patented April 11, 1905.

PATENT @FTTCE.

KNEE REST OR SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 787,068, dated April 11, 1905.

Application tiled October 21, 1904. Serial No. 229,360.

To 1/77 11']! 0111 if may concern/.-

Be it known that I, Ilmzann'ru (lasnYBtsr- ILUI. a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Philadelphia, county of Ihiladelpl1ia,State of Pennsylvania, have invented a Knee Rest or Support, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to knee rests or supports; and it consists in providing means adapted to be placed under the legs at the knees to support the legs in a flexed or partially-flexed position. It is well known to those who are familiar with the subject that it freruiently happens that when a person is sick, and especially when such person is recovering from an illness and is in a convalescent state, it becomes necessary in order to rest the legs of such person to place a support m'iderneath the legs at the knee-joint. This support usually consists of pillows or similar objects. The presence of pillows or other similar objects against the body renders the same too warm and occasions perspiration, the result frequently being that the patient, by reason of cooling off too quickly, takes cold, whereby ultimate recovery is retarded and delayed. I propose to overcome these objections and to provide means whereby the legs may be supported in a flexed position without the attending discomfort of overheating and the ill effects following in consequence of such overheating. The means provided for this purpose consists of a framework of suitable construction, such framework supptn'ting a covering of flexible material which permits the ingress and egress of air, and it is also proposed to leave the opposite ends of the said means or device open to permit the free passage of air, although it is to be understoml that, ifdesired, said ends may be closed by a suitable material, which may he the same as or similar to that which has al ready been referred to as covering the frame and as forming the kneerest.

My invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described in the specification, set forth specifically in the claims, and as illustrated in the acconipanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation. Fig. II is a longitudinal section. Fig. III is a side elevation of one of the hoops which is located at the ends of the knee-rest. Fig. IV is an end clevatitm of the knee-rest. Fig. V is a side elevation of a hoop which is adapted to fit within the hoop shown in Fig. III, and Fig. VI is a top plan view of the hoop shown in Fig. III.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a base which, as illustrated. consists ofa wooden board, though it is to be understood that any other suitable material may be employed-as, for instance. metal and it is also to be understood that the said base may consist of a couple of bars of proper length spaced a sufficient distance apart and connected to each other in any suitable manner as, for instance, by cross-pieces at the ends of the said bars.

2 designates hoops which are located at the opposite ends of the base I and which may be secured to the said base in any suitable inanncr. As illustrated, the base portions of these hoops are located upon the under side of the base; but they may be changed to the upper side of the base, if desired.

3 designates a fabric which extends over and is secured to the hoops 2. A fabric of metal *that is. woven wire is preferable; but it may consist of woven wood or cane strips, cloth, or of any other suitable flexible material which will permit the air to pass through it. The sides of this fabric 3 are secured to the opposite side edges of the. base 1, and the opposite ends thereof are bent over andaround the under or inner sides of the. hoops 2, after which the loops 5 are pushed within the hoops 2 to clamp the ends of the cover 3 against the under sides of the hoops It is to be understood that any other suitable means may be employed for securing and supporting the. ends of the fabric 3 in position.

Each of the hoops 2 is provided with a projection 6. which is perforated, as indicated at T, and through each of these perforations a rod 8 is passed. Each rod extends from one of the hoops 2 downwardly to the opposite end of the rest, and the end thereof is bent downwardly, as indicated at If), and it is extended through the end of the base 1 and also through the base portions of the hoops 2 and 5. The ends of the said rods are upset, as indicated at 11 in Figs. I, II, and IV, whereby the said base and the said hoops 2 and 5 are secured together.

If found desirable and necessary, the base 1 and hoops 2 and 5 may be secured together by additional means-for instance, rivets 9, indicated by dotted lines upon the opposite sides of the portions 10 of the rods 8.

If the rods 8 should be made relatively shorter than is indicated in the drawings, it is apparent that the hoops 2 and 5 would be secured to the base 1 by the said rivets 9 alone. The rods 8 serve as braces to prevent lateral movementthat is, an inward or an outward movementof the hoops 2 and 5.

It will be observed that in my construction the cover 3 is unsupported except at the opposite ends of the rest. In consequence the rest affords a flexible support for the legs, the surface is smooth, and no part thereof projects to occasion discomfort.

As shown in Fig. IV, small projecting portions 12 of the cover are bent around and secured to the ends of the base 1. This construction is preferable because it aids in securing the cover to the frame of the rest; but it will be understood that, if desired, these projecting portions may be removed without affecting the broad idea of my invention.

It will be observed that in transverse section my knee-rest is of such shape that the legs may be bent over the same comfortably and without coming in contact with angles or sharp points of any description whatsoever.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In combination, a base, hoops located at the opposite ends of said base, the said hoops having base portions, a flexible cover extending over the said hoops and having its opposite ends folded around and underneath the same, hoops located within the first-named hoops and adapted to clamp the folded end of the said flexible cover against the inner sides thereof, and means for securing the hoops to the said base.

2. In combination, a base, hoops located at the opposite ends of said base, and each of the tions having perforations therethrough, and

rods passing through the said perforations and extended to the opposite vends of the said base and passing downwardly through the said base and through the said hoops, and a flexible covering secured to the said hoops, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

L. In combination, a base, hoops located at the opposite ends of said base, and having base portions underneath the said base, a flexible cover extending over the said hoops and having its opposite ends bent around the said hoops and upon the inner side thereof, hoops located within the firstnamed hoops and adapted to clamp the said flexible cover against the inner side of thesame, and the said hoops having base portions located upon the upper side of the base, projections provided upon the upper side of the first-named hoops and having perforations therethrough, brace-rods passing through the perforations and extending downwardly and to the opposite ends of the said base, the said rods having portions extending through the ends of the said base and the base portions of the said hoops, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A knee-rest comprising in combination a base, hoops secured to the opposite ends of the said base, brace-rods each of which is secured at one end to one of the said hoops and at the other end to the said base, and a cover secured to and extending from one hoop to the other.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my inventionI have hereunto signed my name this 18th day of October, A. D. 1904.

ELIZABETH CASEY BISIHAM.

In presence of CLARENCE WYATT BISPHAM, CYRUS N. ANDERSON. 

